It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been going to therapy for two years now. Last year I wrote about what I learned in my first year of therapy, and I thought it would be worth reflecting on what I learned in year two. Continuing on in therapy for a second year has allowed me to continue to build a relationship with my therapist and to go deeper on several topics, diving into things I don’t often think about unless given a push. This helps me keep learning, realizing things about myself, and growing. Thanks to therapy, I’m not stagnating and getting stuck in behaviors or thought patterns that don’t serve me.

Back in January, I never would have guessed how necessary therapy would become. With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping through the world and shutting the U.S. down back in March, we rocketed off the course of normalcy. Zoom therapy became just another one of the many changes in my daily life. The switch to Zoom therapy hasn’t slowed us down or impeded our connection. I’ve been grateful to be able to continue my therapy throughout the pandemic, when stress and overwhelm is higher than ever.

So without further ado, here are a few things I’ve learned in year two of therapy.

If you had asked me two years ago, or even 18 months ago, if I thought I’d ever go to therapy, my answer probably would have been, “Ew. No. Why would I go to therapy?”

For years, I believed you only went to therapy if there was something “wrong” with you. But at some point in 2018, my perspective started to shift. I noticed positive depictions of therapy on TV shows I love, like Crazy Ex Girlfriend and Bojack Horseman. Friends were talking about going to therapy. All of Twitter was abuzz with therapy chatter. If all these people were going, maybe it was...normal?